"An RPG with actual depth and difficulty? Finally!"

I'll admit, I was skeptical about this game at first, seeing as the advertising made it look like Atlus was trying to cover up a weak game with Izuna herself.

I haven't been so wrong about a game in quite a while. This is one of the better portable RPG's released recently, and will certainly entertain any hard-core fan. Here's how it all breaks down:

Graphics:8/10
I'm personally a fan of sprites, so I'm a tad biased. And honestly, these graphics could have been done equally well on a GBA. But the sprites lend a charm to this game that just wouldn't exist with other types of animation.

Gameplay:9/10
And here's where the meat of the game lies. Izuna has a semi-turn based battle system. This means that when you stand still, the rest of the world does too. When you make any kind of move, be it walking, using an item, or anything else, the enemies can do something. This allows you to stratagize, without the game moving too slowly. So why not a 10? Sometimes, it doesn't make sense that even the smallest of moves takes a turn, along with the fact that you can't move and attack in one turn. Go figure.

Controls:9.5/10
The controls are so good it's unbelievable. Every button does its job extremely well, especially the special weapon shortcuts for making life so much easier. They are almost flawless- it's very impressive. Moving diagonally is only a challenge if you don't use the diagonal walking button. That's the only reason why it isn't perfect.

Sound:7.5/10
Most of the SFX and Japanese voice clips are good, but some don't sound as clear, and can get a bit irritating. Overall, not bad.

Replay Value:9/10
After you beat the game, there's a 100 floor dungeon that hearkens back to the days of Rogue and Diablo in difficulty. Not to mention all the bosses start leveling up each time you beat them as well. The game just keeps getting harder- awesome.

FINAL SCORE:9/10
Yes, I know the math isn't perfect, but this is what it deserves. It's a game that will please anyone who loves a hard RPG. Not to mention the great humor in the game- it's often laugh out loud funny. This game is worth the $30 price tag for sure. Sadly, there aren't that many copies. So buy it while you can! If this review has convinced at least a few people to buy the game, it's done its job.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/26/07